Loading apparatus.



J. R. ALEXANDER.

LQADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12,1911.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l oaww.

Z .w W U m a Kim M my J. R. ALEXANDER.

LOADING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JOHN R. ALEXANDER, OF MOUNT SIDNEY, VIRGINIA.

LOADING APPARATUS.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1912.. Serial No. 648,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ALEXANDER, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Sidney, in the county of Augusta and State ofVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loading Apcation. 4

The present invention relates to certain novel and useful improvementsin loading apparatus and has particular application to an apparatus forloading coal cars, locomotive tenders, and the like.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to provide an apparatuswhereby the tender, or cars may be rapidly loaded, while the train is inmotion, the tender or car being provided with means for automaticallyopening the bins or other receptacles, containing the material such ascoal, whereby the load may be dropped into the tender or car.

It is also my purpose to provide a structure of this type which may beinstalled over a railroad, track, at predetermined points along theroad, the bin or series of bins con taining the coal or other materialbeing suitably supported and spaced apart upon a V with economy and thecost comotive, i above the frame.

It is also my purpose to provide a loading apparatus embodying thedesired features of simplicity, durability and strength coupled ofconstruction and installation.

With the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view,the invention consists in the construction, combination arrangement ofparts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of anapparatus embodying my improvement, the same in stalled above a railroadtrack in position to deliver a load to a train. Fig. 2 is an end view.Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter Adesignates the ordinary railroad track with the traino'f cars Btraveling therealong, it being assumed for the purpose of description ofthis invention, that it is desired to fill the tender of the 10- whichis indicated at C. Erected track is a suitable trestle or framework,which is indicated at D and comprises the horizontal beams or girders 1and the vertical standards or supports 2, while the by the letter E andare each formed sections H, which, when assembled form .receptacles ofinverted cone-shape in cross paratus, of which the following isaspecifiand numerals 3 are the cross bars for the frame, connecting thehorizontal girders or beams. The bins for the frame are each designatedof two sectlon, each section of the bin being hinged at their outeredges to the hinge rod 5 extending transversely between and supported bythe longitudinal beams or girders. will, of course, be understood thatinstead of employing the hinge rods extending between the two beams, Imay employ pintles or studs engaging with/perforated lugs or carscarried by the sections-of the bin and thereby formlng pivots or hingesfrom which the sections are suspended. At the apex of each bin orreceptacle, I provide a fastening device or look 6 pivoted as at 7 toone of said sections, said lock having a curved latching arm8 engagingwith the opposite section while 9 designates a depending stud or armadapted to be struck by the vertical rod or bar 10 carried by thetcnderof the locomotive. It will be noted that I have provided a series ofbins suitably spaced apart and suspended directly over the track.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,

the construction and manner of using my ap- As the paratus will bereadily apparent. triiin approaches the frame the speed of the same isreduced so that it through the frame beneath the suspended buckets orbins. As it reaches the individual bins the rod or bar carried bythetender strikes against the depending arm 9 of the latching device,thereby swinging the same on the pivot 7 and withdrawing the curvedlatching frame Sfrom locking engagement with the adjacentbucket or bin.This unlocks the two sections at the apex and permits the weight of theload to force the sections apart, the load then falling by gravity intothe tender beneath the same. The same action occurs in each of the binsor buckets, and in case it is desired not to use the coal within certainof the bins, the trippin rod or bar 10 of the tender may be remove outof the path of the latching devices.

It will be seen that I have provided a structure which may be erectedover any stretch of railway track at comparatively little expense and bythe use of such apparatus, moving trains may be quickly andautomatically loaded thereby avoiding the loss of proceeds slowly v timedue to the delay incident to stoppage to take on the load of coal orothermaterial. I claim A loading apparatus comprising a stationaryframe, a stationary receptacle adapted to contain a load and formed oftwo sections suspended from said frame and hinged directly thereto andmovable toward and away from each other, and a latching device pivotedadjacent to the lower edge of one of said sections and having a memberengaging with the adjacent portion of the opposite section to. connectthe sections in receptacle formation, said latching device beingdesigned to be tripped by means carried by a car or the like passingbeneath the receptacle for the purpose of delivering the load.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN R. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

J HN ORITGHER, JOHN A. ALEXANDER.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1). 5G.

